SAN DIEGO'S COIN-OP GAME ROOM HEADING TO SAN FRANCISCO THIS SUMMER

Written by Sarah Fritsche | 04/13/16

Coin-Op Game Room Sacramento Photo Courtesy of Coin-Op Game Room

It’s been home to chef Elizabeth Falkner’s shuttered restaurant, Orson, followed by Vegas-like nightclub, Drake Bar and Lounge, which went dark earlier this year. This summer, San Diego’s Coin-Op Game Room will take over the 10,400-square-foot space at 508 Fourth Street.

The opening will bring yet another option for fans of the interactive drinking and dining trend (see Brewcade, Urban Putt, and the forthcoming ping pong palace, Spin).

The team behind Coin-Op are Has Mahmood, Roy Ledo and Eric Lockeridge, who also own San Diego bar/restaurant, The Lion’s Share. The San Francisco outpost will mark the third location of their bar-cade (in addition to San Diego, there’s a second location in Sacramento).

For Mahmood, who grew up in New Jersey, where he spent a good chunk of time playing in ice rink arcades, the combination of booze, food and games is a great icebreaker for people and offers added value to the bar experience.

There will certainly be plenty of games for folks to choose from to break the ice.

Photo Courtesy of Coin-Op Game Room

Downstairs will have an industrial vibe and feature retro arcade games like Galaga, Pac Man, Q*Bert and Donkey Kong, along with other video games like Time Crisis and Area 51. There will even be skeeball. Upstairs will host a pinball lounge.

The second story will also feature a “secret” bar that Mahmood dubs the Tron Speakeasy. Anod to the classic Disney movie and 2010 sequel, the bar will be designed by Alicia Cheung Lichtenstein and Eva Muller of SFHeimat to resemble the movie’s unique video game style. (To get to the hidden bar, guests will enter through an out-of-order Tron game cabinet.)

Food-wise, it’s good news for night owls, as the kitchen will be open late (until 1 a.m.). About a third of the menu will feature different kinds of pizza — using the existing pizza oven in the large kitchen, which is a holdover from the space’s Orson days. The rest of the menu will offer casual plates that are meant to be shared, including a Shake Shack-like burger and poutine.

As far as booze, Mahmood says that due to the spaces high-volume, drinks will be designed to be served fast, but won’t compromise on flavor. He hints that some of the drinks will tap into favorite childhood drinks like root beer floats. The speakeasy will have a separate cocktail menu with a focus on Scotch and bourbon.

The team is targeting for a late July/early August opening.

Hours will be Monday-Friday from 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; weekends from noon-2 a.m.; kitchen will stay open until 1 a.m. nightly.